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R661 LFJ

1997 BMW 523

Blue Petrol 2494cc
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MOT Status

Expired
Expires21 Feb 2011
Tests8 (5 pass, 3 fail)
Pass rate62.5%

Mileage

212,633 mi
Last recorded212,633 miles
Recorded on18 May 2011
Typical for 1997 BMW 523121,619 mi

Significantly above average — investigate

4 checks still locked for this BMW
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Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationR661 LFJ
MakeBMW
Model523
Year1997
ColourBlue
Fuel typePetrol
Engine2,494cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

5 pass 3 fail
Fail 18 May 2011 212,633 miles

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)

Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content at idle excessive (7.3.D.4)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Brake hose excessively deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Nearside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Offside Rear Suspension arm has excessive play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (3.6.B.4d)

Pass 17 Feb 2010 202,256 miles

Backbox heat shield loose

Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Rear brake flexi's have slight cracks

Pass 16 Feb 2009 187,351 miles

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

front pipe to middle pipe loose

Fail 13 Feb 2009 187,351 miles

Nearside Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Nearside rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.B.6a)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has excessive play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Offside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

Offside Front suspension has slight play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)

front pipe to middle pipe loose

Pass 22 Feb 2008 160,923 miles
Fail 18 Feb 2008 160,773 miles

Nearside Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Front brake disc in such a condition that it is seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Nearside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Offside Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Pass 7 Feb 2007 130,292 miles

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Parking brake: parking brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

Pass 9 Feb 2006 125,983 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm has slight play in a ball joint (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm has slight play in a pin/bush (2.4.G.2)

rear number plate loose

How Reliable is the BMW 523?

Based on 254,660 MOT tests across 20,979 vehicles.

69.9%
Pass Rate
5,849
Miles/Year
30
Year Lifespan
20,979
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 17,201
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 15,085
parking brake recording little or no effort 9,427
Brake pipe excessively corroded 9,143
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 7,285
Full BMW 523 reliability report

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R661 LFJ is a 1997 BMW 523 in Blue with a 2,494cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 8 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 62.5%.

Across all 1997 BMW 523 models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.1% with a typical mileage of 121,619 miles. This particular vehicle has a lower pass rate than the average for its year, which may indicate maintenance issues worth investigating.

The most common reason a BMW 523 fails its MOT is parking brake: efficiency below requirements, accounting for 17,201 recorded failures. If you're considering buying R661 LFJ, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The BMW 523 typically stays on UK roads for around 30 years. At 29 years old, this BMW 523 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of R661 LFJ?

You can check the full history of R661 LFJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was R661 LFJ registered?

R661 LFJ is a 1997 BMW 523, first registered on 15 August 1997.

Is R661 LFJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for R661 LFJ shows 8 tests with a 62.5% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does R661 LFJ have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on R661 LFJ. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.